Report Shows Racial Profiling Pervasive Across America

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Report Shows Racial Profiling Pervasive Across America

Washington Congressional Leaders Urge Action on the End Racial Profiling Act

[Oct 6th-SEATTLE] Today, OneAmerica along with Rights Working Group released a report demonstrating the need to address racial, ethnic, religious and national origin profiling and finding that the patchwork of laws dealing with racial profiling have created a system that is too burdensome for victims of profiling to navigate. Faces of Racial Profiling: A Report from Communities Across America gives voice to some of these individuals by featuring testimonies from the six Face the Truth hearings, including the Burlington, WA hearing held by OneAmerica and CAIR-WA.

The hearings showed how pervasive the practice of racial profiling is across America and the devastating impact this practice has on individuals, families, and communities. Muslim and Middle Eastern young men had the same experiences crossing the northern border in Maine as community members in Washington State.

“They surround the car [at the border checkpoint]…there’s nothing—there’s no event to spark this. It’s just ‘You’re going into cuffs. You’re coming out of the car.’ And you’re in front of so many people. ‘There goes the Muslims. I wonder what they’re up to.’ They’re looking at you crazy.”

- Report Excerpt, Alex Arvanetes, Washington State Resident who crosses the border regularly to see his wife who is a Canadian citizen.

 “Research shows racial profiling hasn’t kept Americans any safer,” said CAIR-WA Youth Civil Rights Coordinator, Jennifer Gist. “If the goal is to strengthen national security, we should focus on using intelligence more effectively and look out for suspicious behavior. Profiling individuals on the basis of their skin color or religious expression is counterproductive to national security.” 

 The report also highlights the how local police profile and then engage in “informal” immigration enforcement.

“I didn’t know why the police officer decided to stop me. . .The first thing the police officer asked me was, ‘Do you have legal documents?’Sure, I’ll give you my driver’s license, registration, and insurance. He asked me again, ‘Did you have legal documents?’ I thought he meant my insurance documents had expired. . .He asked me directly, ‘Are you legally in the country?’”

-Report Excerpt, Marco Sanchez, a practicing psychologist who manages two community health clinics in WA recounts being asked for his “papers” by police. 

 Though Constitutional protections and federal laws relevant to racial profiling exist, there are major hurdles to file complaints and access the courts. An individual cannot just file suit in a case of alleged racial profiling but is forced to sue the entire institution, creating an almost insurmountable obstacle for people to look towards the judicial system for help.

That’s why passing the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) is so crucial.

 Congressman Rick Larsen outlined why he is a co-sponsor of ERPA:

 “Racial profiling is a disturbing practice and an ineffective means of conducting police work. The release of the Faces of Racial Profiling report, which features stories from Burlington, Washington, in my District, shows the unfortunate reality that racial profiling exists in our local communities.  We must do whatever possible at the federal, state, and local level to ensure that this practice does not continue. I am working in Congress to help end racial profiling. I supported legislation that would prohibit any law enforcement agency from engaging in racial profiling and allow for civil action to be brought in a State or district court. The End Racial Profiling Act would also require that all federal and state law enforcement agencies that receive federal funding must certify that they have adequate policies in place to ensure that racial profiling does not continue. I also supported a $1,875,000 grant program that seeks to end racial profiling. I will continue working in Congress to ensure we bring an end to this deplorable practice and end racial profiling.”

 Congressman Jim McDermott also called for the passage of the End Racial Profiling Act:

 “Racial profiling is a human rights violation, clear and simple. Not only does racial profiling affect people from all backgrounds, but is has also proven to undermine the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies when they narrowly focus on a limited group of suspects.  The time for this legislation is long overdue, and I will continue working with OneAmerica to ensure that all those within America’s borders have fundamental rights.”

Interested in participating in the Face the Truth Campaign?

Take Action and tell your U.S. Representative to Co-sponsor and Pass the End Racial Profiling Act of 2010.

 Contact Kendra@weareoneamerica.org if you have experience a racial profiling incident in WA’s northern border area.

 Download Executive Summary of Report

 Download Full Report